CUCKOO FLOWER

Had to do some fence repair in the field by the park pond on Friday 27th and it was a good opportunity to get a bit closer to some of the inhabitants on the pond. The mute swan continues to sit tightly on her nest with the male keeping a watch from nearby. Two coot families have already hatched out with parents tending to their red-headed little chicks.

Other ducks on the pond included two pairs of tufted ducks, male gadwall, pair of ruddy ducks and more interestingly three pochard. One was a female which bodes well for a possible nesting attempt of this rather scarce British breeder, later in the spring.

The first member of the dragonfly family was seen fluttering into a hedge, this being the common blue-tailed damselfly. Clinging to some rushes by the water were several caddis flies with their large smoky brown wings. Peering down into the water of the pond revealed it to be absolutely heaving with microscopic life - the very common and numerous daphnia.

Before the cattle are let loose in the fields for the summer, there is an opportunity for the dainty cuckoo flower or lady's smock to flourish in this meadow. It is the only place on the Island where it grows and only when the pale lilac flowers emerge, is the plant easy to find amongst the long grass. Called the cuckoo flower because it comes out at the same time that the cuckoo is heard. On this particular morning it may have been more apt to name it after the loud nightingale that was in full song from a nearby hedge.

Earlier in the day a search was made of the beach to see if a common seal was still around. Several dog walkers on the beach on Wednesday noticed the seal on the beach close to the high tide but seemingly it was quite content out of the water. It was seen heading back into the water and has not been seen since.

Ian Black on Thursday 26th had a good view of a hen harrier flying over fields near the East Mersea road in the middle of the Island. It has been a poor year for hen harrier sightings.